Soft vs hard EVA foam, and what it does to your arm

Behind the face sits a foam core, almost always EVA. The core shapes how a racket feels even more than the face material does.

Soft EVA

Soft foam compresses more when the ball arrives, then pushes it back out.

• The ball stays on the face a moment longer, which makes it easier to aim.
• Extra power comes from the foam instead of your arm.
• Shock is absorbed, so this is the kindest option for elbows and shoulders.
• The downside: on very hard hits it can feel mushy and less precise.

Medium EVA

The compromise most rackets use. Soft enough to stay comfortable, dense enough to feel stable on a smash. With no particular complaints, start here.

Hard EVA

Hard foam barely compresses.

• Fast, direct response: the ball leaves as soon as it lands.
• High control for players with a strong, repeatable swing.
• The most shock of the three. For a troubled arm, this is the riskiest choice.
• Hard foam stiffens further in cold weather, which rarely matters in Indonesia.

Combinations that make sense

• Beginner: fiberglass + soft EVA. Comfortable, forgiving, easy on the arm.
• Intermediate: 3K carbon + medium EVA. Precision starts to appear without harshness.
• Advanced and attacking: 12K carbon or coarser + medium or hard EVA.
• Sensitive elbow: start from soft EVA, then think about the face.

If you answer "sensitive arm" in the Racket Finder, we drop rackets with a low comfort rating automatically.